Combined closure and handle for bag



1936- J. A. FARMER 2,050,967

COMBINED CLOSURE AND HANDLE FOR BAGS Filed July 5, 19 55 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1936- v J. A. FARMER 2,050,967

COMBINED CLOSURE AND HANDLE FOR BAGS Filed July 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1936 2,050,967 oomsmsn CLOSURE AND HANDLE roa BAG John A. Farmer, Lancaster, Pa. Application July 5, 1935, Serial No. 30,006

10 Claims.

This invention relates to bags or packages for fluent or other materials, and more particularly to a carrying handle for such bags.

In my prior application Serial No. 745,121,

filed September 22, 1934, I have shown and described an improved closure tab of sheet material for efiectively sealing filled bags.

The general object of the present invention is to provide simple, cheap and practical means by which a convenient carrying handle of sheet material for filled bags may be produced. More specifically, the invention has for its chief object the modification of the closure tab shown and described in said prior application in such manner that it may also serve the purpose of a handle,

whereby a single piece of sheet material may be used to constitute a combined sealing member and carrying handle.

Other subsidiary objects will hereinafter appear as the description proceeds.

In order that the invention maybe readily understood, reference is had to the accompany? ing drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bag having my improved combination closure and handle applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the handle bent up into carrying position;'

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the combined closure and handle shown in the preceding figures, as it appears before being applied to the bag;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified form of closure and handle;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the appearance of the device illustrated in Fig. 6 when in use;

Fig.. 8 is a view similar to Fig. further modified construction;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. the device illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing means for enclosing or protecting the handle;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figs. '7 and 9, but showing the form of device illustrated in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a still further modified arrangement.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, I designates an ordinary bag of flexible material such as paper,

5, showing a '1, but showing cellulose sheeting or the like. While I have shown a bag having a fiat or satchel bottom 2, it will be understood that the invention is also applicable to other types of bags.

The numeral 4 designatesa sealing tab or closure member of the same general character as 5 that illustrated and described in my said prior application. This closure member is formed from a blank of sheet material having the general outline shown in Fig. 5. It is provided with a central or median score line 5 about which it may be 10 folded upon itself so as to form a V-shaped mem- I her which is inverted and placed over the top of the bag, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to straddle or embrace the same.

The bag having been filled with the material 15 desired, the end portions of the sides are then brought together at the top into fiat relation. These end portions may simply be brought together, as shown at 3 in Fig. 4, and the sealing member placed in position over them, or, after having been brought together, they may be turned over or folded, as illustrated in my said prior application. In either case, after the sealing tab is assembled in position over the end of the bag, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is permanently secured thereto by fastening means such as a series of rivets or staples 6, passing'through the end portions of the bag and both legs of the V- shaped tab or closure member. These fastening devices are preferably placed in a straight row parallel with the fold line or bend 5 of the tab, as shown in Fig. 1, and adjacent the end of the bag. The tab 4 may also be provided with a diagonal line I, as shown in Fig. 1, along which line the corner of the package may be cut off to provide a pouring opening, as fully set forth in my said prior application.

In carrying out the present invention, I form suitable openings 8 in one or both of the skirts or legs 4 and 4 of, the sealing tab, Figs. 1 to 5 0 showing such openings formed in both legs. These openings are of such a size as to readily receive one or more fingers of the hand, the openings shown in Figs. 1 to 5 being oblong in shape and adapted to receive several fingers.

In addition to the score line 5, the blank, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided with two other score lines a: about which the material may be bent or folded. These score lines a: are parallel with the score line 5 and spaced equal distances on each side thereof. Whilethe score line 5 is formed on the lower. or inner side of the blank or tab so that the latter .may be folded down to embrace the top of the bag, the score lines :0, on the contrary, are formed on the upper or outer side of 5 the blank, so that the end portions or legs of the tab, normally lying against the sides of the bag, may be bent or folded upwardly about such score lines.

From the foregoing, it will thus be seen that a purchaser of a package such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may readily fold or bend the end portions 4 and 4 of the tab upwardly into substantially parallel relation, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and can then slip his fingers through the registering openings 8, and thus use the device as a convenient carrying handle. It will be noted that the score lines a: are shown as being placed parallel with and closely adjacent to but Just beyond the row of fasteners 6, as shown in Fig. 1, so that these fasteners do not interfere with the bending or turning up of the end portions of the tab to constitute a handle. In many cases, however, the staples 6 may be placed substantially on the score lines themselves, and. in some such instances the tab may be sufficiently weakened to provide fold lines merely by the perforation of the material by the fastening means, and no special scoring is required.

It will further be noted that the score lines name, of course, parallel with the upper edge of the bag and with the edge of the apex of the tab.

The exact nature of the sheet material of which my improved closure member and carrying handle is made will vary widely with the size and weight of the package. For small and relatively light packages of one or two pounds, a heavy tough grade of paper may satisfactorily be employed. For slightly heavier packages, I may'advantageously use different grades of tag board. For still larger and heavier bags, fiber board of the proper thickness can be employed. In some cases, the paper stock, tag board or the like may be reinforced with a backing of fabric, or may have threads or strands incorporated in the paper itself, to give it the necessary strength.

In any case, it is desirable that the grain or fiber of the paper or cardboard stock should run in a direction at right-angles to the fold lines, and, as in my prior application, the material should possess a certain amount of resilience so that the skirts or legs of the tab will snugly hug the sides of the bag and assume a. flaring form, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be understood that where, in the specification and claims, I use the expression score lin I mean either actual scoring or any method of perforating or weakening the blank so as to permit bending or folding, as described.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, I have illustrated a construction in which only one side or leg of the tab; such as 4 is provided with a finger opening 8, the other side remaining intact. In this case, of course, I provide only a. single score line 1:. Otherwise the construction and operation is the same as previously described, the leg 4" only of the tab being folded upwardly to constitute a carrying handle. Owing to the fact that this single leg is in practice very close to the center line of the bag, it may be satisfactorily used alone as a carrying handle, and the bag will depend substantially vertically therefrom, the same as when both legs of the tab are employed, as in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have illustrated a similar construction, except that I have shown the'finger opening formed by bending or folding back a cut-out portion 9 about the long outer edge of the opening 1/. This cut-out portion or flap 9, when folded back as shown in Fig. 9, constitutes a reinforcement which adds strength and stiflness to the upper edge of the handle opening I, and at the same time, the folded edge presents to the fingers a rounded surface which is not so sharp 5 as that of a simple opening, such as 8.

Still another method of reinforcing and covering the upper edge of the opening of the carrying handle in order to protect the fingers from injury, especially where the package is heavy, 10 is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. In these figures, l0 represents a pad formed by folding a sheet of paper or the like, and this pad is then looped through the opening 8 and has its ends detachably connected by means of an adhesive seal, or 15 sticker II. It will be seen that by this arrangement, the pad Ill covers and encloses the upper edge 8' of the opening 8, 'and thus protects the fingers from being cut by this sharp edge.

This arrangement also has another advantage 20 in that it provides convenient means whereby a sheet containing printed directions, recipes, etc., may be readily attached to the package when sold. After the customer has carried the package to its destination, and is ready to use the contents, 25 he may readily break the seal II and remove the folded sheet so as to inspect the printed matter which it may contain.

While in the preceding figures I have illustrated an opening such as 8 of elongated form 30 capable of receiving a plurality of fingers, it will, of course, be understood that the invention is by no means limited to this type of opening, as other forms may readily be employed. By way of obvious variations, I have shown in Fig. 12 one leg 35 of the tab such as 4 provided with a single circular opening 12 and the other leg 4 with a plurality of separate openings l3, adapted to receive individual fingers. Obviously either a single opening, as shown at I2, or a plurality of openings, as shown at l3, may be used alone, after the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7, or, if desired, both types of openings may be used in the same tab, as shown in Fig. 12, in which latter case the fingers may be inserted in the openings l3, and the 45 thumb in the opening l2.

No claim is made herein to the closure or sealing tab itself or to the method of providing a pouring opening by cutting off a comer of the tab and associated portions of the bag, this subject matter 50 being covered in my above-mentioned prior copending application Serial No. 745,121, filed September 22, 1934, and the claims of the present application being limited solely to such modifications of the tab as adapt it to perform the func- 55 tions of a. handle.

What I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a combined closure and handle for bags, the same comprising a blank of sheet material adapted to be folded 60 inwardly upon itself along a transverse line to embrace the fiat end of a bag, and the blank on at least one side of the said transverse line having a parallel score line defining a portion adapted to be bent outwardly, said portion having an 5 opening to receive one or more fingers, and constituting a carrying handle.

2. As an article of manufacture, a combined closure and handle for bags, the same comprising a blank of sheet material having a first trans- 70 verse score line and a parallel score line spaced therefrom, the scoring being done on opposite sides of the blank so that the material may be folded in opposite directions about the respective lines, the portion of the blank between the 75 said parallel score line and adjacent edge 0! the blank having an opening adapted to receive one or more fingers and capable of forming a carrying handle.

3. As an article of manufacture, a combined closure and handle for bags, the same comprising a blank of sheet material having a central score line and a pair of parallel score lines disposed one at each side of said central score line i and equally spaced therefrom, the scoring of said central line being done on the opposite side of the blank from that on which the scoring of said parallel lines is done, whereby the blank may be folded in one direction about said central line and in the opposite direction about each of said parallel lines, the portions of the blank between each of said parallel lines and the adjacent edge of the blank having openings adapted to receive one or more fingers.

4. A package comprising a flexible bag containing any desired material, the end portions of the sides of the bag being brought together at the top in flat relation, and an inverted V- shaped sealing tab of sheet material embracing the said end portions and secured thereto by fastening means disposed in a row adjacent the end of the bag and parallel therewith, said fastening means extending through the end portions of the bag and both legs of said tab, at least one leg of the tab being adapted to be folded alon a line adjacent said row of fastening means and also having an opening adapted to receive one or more fingers, whereby said leg may be bent upwardly about said line to constitute a carrying handle.

5. A package comprising a flexible bag containing any desired material, the end portions of the sides of the bag being brought together at the top in flat relation, and an inverted V- shaped sealing tab of sheet material embracing the said end portions and secured thereto by fastening means disposed in a row adjacent the end of the bag and parallel therewith, said iastening means extending through the end portions'of the bag and both legs of said tab, each leg of the tab being adapted to be folded along a line adjacent said row of fastening means, and also having an opening adapted to receive one or more fingers, whereby said legs may be turned upwardly about said lines toward each other jointly constitute a carrying handle.

6. A package comprising a flexible bag containing any desired material, the end portions of the sides of the bag being brought together at the top in flat relation. and an inverted V- shaped sealing tab of sheet. material embracing the said end portions and secured thereto by fastening means disposed adjacent the end of the bag and extending through the end portions thereof and both legs of said tab, at' least one leg of the tab having a score line parallel with the upper end of the bag and also having an opening adapted to receive one or more fingers; whereby said leg may be bent upwardly about said line to constitute a carrying handle.

7. A package comprising a flexible bag containing any desired material, the end portions of the sides of the bag being brought together at the top in flat relation, and an inverted V- shaped sealing tab of sheet material embracing the said end portions and secured thereto by fastening means disposed adjacent the end of the bag and extending through the end portions thereof and both legs of said tab, at least one leg of the tab having a score line parallel with the upper end of the bag and also having an opening adapted to receive one or more fingers, whereby said leg may be bent upwardly about said line to constitute a carrying handle, and means for reinforcing the upper edge of said opening.

8. The combination with a package having a tab of sheet material provided with a finger-receiving opening and constituting a carrying handle, of a protecting and reinforcing pad of folded paper or the like looped through said opening in position to enclose the upper edge thereof, and retained therein by means detachably connecting the two ends of the loop.

9. A package comprising a flexible bag containing any desired material, the end portions of the sides of the bag being brought together at the top in flat relation, anda tab of sheet material secured to said end portions by fastening means disposed in a row adjacent the end of the ba and parallel therewith, said tab normally lying against the side of the bag, but being adapted to be folded along a line adjacent said row, and also having an opening adapted to receive one or more fingers, whereby said tab may be bent upwardly about said line to constitute a carrying handle.

10.'A package comprising a flexible bag, the end portions of the sides of the bag being brought together at the top in flat relation, and a tab of sheet material secured to said end portions by fastening means passing therethrough and disposed in a line adjacent the end of the bag and parallel therewith, the free portion of said tab originally lying against the aided the bag and having an opening adapted to receive one or more fingers, the said tree portion of said tab being adapted to be bent upwardly about said line to constitute a carrying handle.

JOHN A. FARMERM 

